Holiday card etiquette

[Anonymous]

It’s that time of year where we receive holiday cards from friends and family ( I’m talking about the custom ones, often with professional photos of the family)

Do you personally thank everyone who sends you a card ( via text or email) ? Do you just mention the card casually next time you see them ( Oh, I loved your holiday card, I can’t believe how tall Larlo has gotten) ? What is the proper etiquette to handle this?

Also - how long do you keep the card? Do you keep a few from close friends/ family and dispose of the rest after the holidays?

[Anonymous]

I do use the cards as an opportunity to reach out to some friends and reconnect. We don't do it for everyone, just too busy honestly. I wish I were better!

We display all of them and then keep a selection - close friends / relatives, anything with a nice handwritten note, kid friends that they want to keep (my preschooler is obsessed). I will probably re-cull after a couple yrs.

[Anonymous]

I don’t say anything but make sure they received a card from us.
I display the ones we received from that year then toss after Xmas.

[Anonymous]

I send a text for people I don’t see regularly. I bring it up with people I see regularly.

[Anonymous]

No obligation to comment, text, reply or keep for any period of time.

[Anonymous]

I look at and throw away

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No obligation to comment, text, reply or keep for any period of time.

+1
If it's a good chance to reconnect then do that. If you want to toss, do that.

[Anonymous]

I recycle them. If someone has handwritten a little note, even just a few words, I text them or call them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I send a text for people I don’t see regularly. I bring it up with people I see regularly.

This.

It takes just a few seconds to text that you love their card, the kids are adorable, and you hope they are doing well/have a merry Christmas.

I try to send a quick text to everyone. It’s a nice thing to do.

I display all the cards I receive as part of my holiday decor. I save the truly awesome ones sometimes. And I usually toss them all in a bag and use that as my “list” the next year (then get rid of them each year).

[Anonymous]

I display them until mid-January. Then I save the ones from close friends that have family photos. If there is no photo, but a meaningful note that makes me smile I save it.

I reach out if they disclosed something like an engagement of a kid, illness, or whatever. If I didn't send cards, I would thank each person to make sure they know I want to stay on the list, but since I send cards, I only text a few.

[Anonymous]

There's no etiquette need to respond. However, everyone I get cards from does get a card from me.

When two of my school girlfriends sent photo cards with no picture or mention of husband, I contacted them (there is something a bit sad about having a Christmas card being a divorce announcement in disguise). Those are the only times I reached out due to the cards. My people don't send letters.

[Anonymous]

Throw away

[Anonymous]

We display cards during the holidays then throw them out when we take down our decorations in early January.

A few friends have texted or mentioned they liked our card. But no obligation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I send a text for people I don’t see regularly. I bring it up with people I see regularly.

This sounds like the perfect response! 😀

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I look at and throw away

Really??

Do you throw them away immediately???